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Events
Exhibitions

Useless Man

  • Useless Man. Supplied.
    Useless Man. Supplied.
Exhibitions
Useless Man
Event Information

Useless Man is a collection of over 100 art works made by award-winning artist James Hale during his two months in RESIDENCE.

The exhibition will explore a multitude of things: love, death, Footscray, sex, drag queens, Seddon, art, camp, gossip, and Yarraville – inspired in theme and title by queer icon Leigh Bowery. A sequinned, supernova from Sunshine, elements of Bowery’s life and art, both oblique and blatant, run throughout this exhibition.

Useless Man sees Hale’s creative process laid bare – showing several versions of a singular work throughout its development. A picture’s meaning can change dramatically with the addition or subtraction of a word. Even a change of composition can “fix” a lacklustre drawing. This exhibition exposes the process behind a finished artwork, mistakes and all.

Join us on the opening night for after-hours gallery access and bar facilities. While you’re there, make sure you pop by neighbouring exhibition Tender gestures, loud voices, exhibiting our Roslyn Smorgon Gallery.

 

Date & Times
When

Opening Night: Wednesday 7 July, 6.30-8.30pm
Exhibition: 8 July – 5 Aug

Venue
Footscray Community Arts
Cost

Free

Meet the Artists
  • James Hale
    James Hale

    James Hale is a queer artist living and working in Melbourne. He makes colourful oil paintings and austere drawings on cardboard. These works can be sad, bitchy, sexy, devastating, offensive, funny, bitter, fatalistic, inscrutable, sensitive, stupid, or profound. His practice is rooted in the tradition of other queer artists that utilise text like Rene Ricard, David McDiarmid, Tracey Emin, A.L. Stiener, and David Robilliard.